US: AgSecretary Vilsack's statement on new Under Secretary for Food Safety

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement on the appointment of Dr. Elisabeth Hagen as Under Secretary for Food Safety.

"There is no higher priority at USDA than ensuring that Americans have access to a safe and healthy food supply, and Dr. Hagen's background as the Chief Medical Officer and senior executive within USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service will enable her to successfully lead the effort to develop and execute the agency's scientific and public health agenda, and continue to build the coordination with public health partners at federal, state, and local level needed to achieve the objectives of President Obama's Food Safety Working Group."

Prior to her nomination as Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Elisabeth Hagen served as the USDA's Chief Medical Officer a senior executive at USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, where she played a key role in developing and executing the agency's scientific and public health agendas.

Before joining the federal government in 2006, Hagen taught and practiced medicine in both the private and academic sectors, most recently in Washington, DC.